Frequently Asked Questions

All dash indicator lights turn on and then off when the car starts as a quick system check to make sure they are working. This on-off behavior also shows your service technician which bulbs may be burned out.

It’s not a reset issue but rather an indicator of a malfunction in the engine’s emissions. If your car’s issue was truly resolved at the repair shop, the check engine light may just go out by itself. If it doesn’t, you can bring it into your local Midas and a professional will use a special (scan) tool to clear the code.

Anytime you see your check engine light, it means your vehicle is emitting excessive emissions, which threatens public safety, your safety, MPGs and vehicle performance and reliability. Be on the safe side. If you see your check engine light, stop by your local Midas store, and we’ll take a look.

You should get it checked at one of our stores as soon as possible. If the Check Engine light is yellow, it means the engine is not running at maximum efficiency. This lowers your gas mileage and increases the pollution your car is emitting. A red light indicates there’s an issue and that you should head straight to your nearest service station. If the light is flashing, immediate service is required, even if the light doesn’t flash continuously.

Yes, if you were to leave the gas cap off, or loose, this most likely would turn on the check engine light. The fix would be to put the gas cap back on or tighten it. Then, in most cases, when you drive your vehicle the check engine light will go out by itself. There are times when the check engine light means that something in the system needs to be repaired or replaced.